Chieli Minucci's Father Passes Away

Although Chieli Minucci is celebrating another Daytime Emmy Award nomination and the release of a brand-new album, he is also mourning the death of his father. Ulpio Minucci died at his home in Brentwood, California, at age 89, on March 9. Born in Italy, Ulpio emigrated from Italy to the United States in the 1930s after studying at the Santa Cecilia Music Conservatory in Rome and earning a doctorate of law from the University of Palermo. He wrote many songs in his career, including �A Thousand Thoughts of You� performed by Nat �King� Cole and �Domani,� performed by Bing Crosby. In addition to being an A&R representative in charge of talent for Columbia Records, Ulpio composed the theme and musical score for the 1985 animated television series Robotech, as well as the ABC series Saga of Western Man.

On his 2005 CD Got It Goin� On, Chieli paid tribute to his father with an instrumental song that Ulpio had written called �Love Is Always Young.� It wasn�t the first time Chieli had rearranged one of his father�s songs � he also did it with a song called �Mountains� on his debut solo album from 1994 called Jewels. In addition to Chieli, Ulpio is survived by his wife of 55 years, Catherine, daughter Nina, and three grandchildren.